On the Structure-Activity Relationship for NO-SCR with NH3 Catalyzed by Cu-exchanged Natural Chabazite and SSZ-13

In spite of their similar structures, the catalytic properties of natural and synthetic (SSZ-13) Chabazite during the selective reduction of NO with NH3 have a different dependence on the Cu exchange level when tested under conditions equivalent to those found in Diesel vehicles. At low (1-2 wt.%) and high copper loadings (6-14 wt.%), their activities differ, because there are variations in the different species of Cu (Cu+, Cu2+, Cu-O-Cu) detected by UV-Vis. At intermediate Cu loadings (2-3 wt.%) they have similar high activities, reaching 100 % conversion. High deNOx activity per Cu site appears to correlate with the predominance of charge compensation Cu2+ species over CuOx moieties. There are changes in the distribution of Cu moieties during operation of both catalysts, evidenced by DR-UV-Vis.